Take Charge, ACN Tells Lawmakers-Elect

Leaders of the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, have reminded lawmakers elected on the party’s platform that without them, the governments of their various states would not exist. The ACN leaders, therefore, tasked the lawmakers to ensure that they utilise the opportunity for the improvement of the society within the next four years.

Those who spoke with the lawmakers drawn from across the country during their induction on Monday included the party Chairman, Chief Bisi Akande; National Leader of the party, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu; National Vice Chairman, Boss Mustapha; the party’s Legal Adviser, Muiz Banire and the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Lai Mohammed.

In a nine-page address to the lawmakers, Akande reminded them that the party remained supreme, advising them to always remember this while carrying out their duties.

While emphasising the importance of the parliamentary arm of government, Akande said the legislature, apart from the function of lawmaking, are also supposed to either praise or whip a government into action.

He reminded them that this was part of what was witnessed between Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State and members of the House of Assembly in 2009, but which was misinterpreted as a crisis between the governor and Tinubu on the one hand, and between the governor and Speaker Adeyemi Ikuforiji, on the other.

Akande warned that no politician, no matter how highly placed is above the party.

Tinubu, while speaking with the lawmakers, advised them to constantly remember why they are in politics. “For the members of our party, politics must first and foremost be for the purpose of offering selfless service to achieve the greatest good for the greatest number of our people,” he said.

He implored them to co-operate with the other arms of government while observing the constitutional role of separation of power and their oversight functions.

According to him, “One good example of how lack of co-operation and harmonious relationship between the executive and legislature can severely jeopardise meaningful development is the budgetary process at the national level since 1999.

“At no time over the last 12 years has the Federal Government achieved more than 30 per cent budget performance due largely to endless wrangling between the executive and legislature which has become an annual ritual.

“Right now, the year 2011 budget is yet to be passed into law for the same reason. How then can set objectives be met when such a crucial instrument of governance as the budget is the victim of avoidable acrimony between arms of government controlled by the same party?” he asked.